At this point in the pre-draft process, NFL teams must have a general idea how the entire draft will play out in order to determine how high they're willing to select players they think fit their system.

Note the phrase "general idea" -- accurately predicting team-player pairings is nearly impossible, due to trades and the wide variance in grades different teams apply to players. Although teams' top-50 prospects might be similar, the rest of their boards can look quite different because each general manager and head coach looks for different attributes in a player.

Teams don't treat the draft like a grocery list, picking a player to fill their most desperate need in the first round, their next biggest need in the second round, and so on. Value at each pick dictates how the draft goes and how teams try to fill gaps on the rosters.

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Despite those pitfalls, the following seven-round mock draft still attempts to put a face (and name) to each selection, with a quick explanation for picks in the first four rounds -- the range in which most of the league's starters were once drafted into service. So just have fun examining one man's preview of the 77th installment of the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting -- otherwise known as the 2012 NFL Draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts:Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford. The news the Colts informed Luck he will be the pick simply confirmed what most everyone expected when the athletic and intelligent signal caller officially declared his intention to enter the draft in January.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars:Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina. With Rashean Mathis still on the mend from a November ACL injury, the Jaguars could take a carbon-copy cornerback in Gilmore. Six-foot tall star SEC corners with 4.4 speed don't grow on trees.

8. Miami Dolphins:Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. New Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman has inside knowledge on Tannehill's abilities from his days as the head coach at A&M. Now general manager Jeff Ireland must make the call on whether the athletic young passer is the team's quarterback of the future.

10. Buffalo Bills:Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame. Putting Michael Floyd across from Stevie Johnson should make quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's life much easier -- and help reduce his league-leading 23 interceptions from 2011.

11. Kansas City Chiefs:Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College. Kuechly's ability to find his way through traffic in the run game and drop into coverage instantly upgrades the Chiefs' defense.

12. Seattle Seahawks:Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina. Improving the team's pass rush is a priority, and Pete Carroll might momentarily suspend his penchant for long defenders to bring in a playmaker like Ingram.

14. Dallas Cowboys:Mark Barron, SS, Alabama. Barron's ability to stick ball carriers while in the box but still close on telegraphed passes in his area makes him a coveted player at a position lacking depth in this year's class.

15. Philadelphia Eagles:Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis.Andy Reid doesn't mind taking a chance on a player's upside, and the extremely athletic, 346-pound Poe has as much potential as any player in this draft.

16. New York Jets:Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa. The team has reportedly tried to trade starting right tackle Wayne Hunter in the past. Reiff could fill in at that spot right away if Rex Ryan finally finds a taker before, during or after the draft.

22. Browns:Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor. Adding Richardson at four and Wright at 22 suddenly gives Cleveland a much brighter future on offense. The question will be whether they covet Brandon Weeden enough to pick him here, or if they will patiently allow the draft to unfold before finding some competition for Colt McCoy.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers:Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama. The age of Pittsburgh's defense might push them toward a versatile player like Hightower, who can play outside or inside. The Steelers aren't afraid to build depth at a position instead of filling what people perceive as their more immediate need.

25. Denver Broncos:Michael Brockers, DT, LSU. Brockers might have enough upside to be picked earlier in the round, but the Broncos could land a much-needed big body inside if teams aren't sure he can provide much of a pass rush.

27. New England Patriots:Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama. Upshaw should be able to play the same role for the Patriots that he did at Alabama, rushing the passer standing up or with his hand on the ground, as well as setting the edge against the run no matter where he lines up.

29. Baltimore Ravens:Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin. Konz has the combination of strength and mobility to handle guard duties in 2012 and then take over at center for veteran Matt Birk soon after.

30. San Francisco 49ers:Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech. The team can't assume Randy Moss will be an impact player, given his inactivity in 2011 and lack of production in 2010. Hill's a raw prospect worth a late first-round pick. He's capable of making a few big plays as a rookie for a team in need of a vertical threat.

31. Patriots:Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut. Another versatile defender who lines up inside and outside depending on the defensive call, Reyes will help pressure the quarterback and disrupt run plays no matter where he's positioned.

32. New York Giants:Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford. Adding another offensive weapon to Eli Manning's arsenal would only make him more efficient. Fleener's value would be excellent, even if both Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum weren't trying to work back from offseason surgeries.

109. Redskins:Omar Bolden, CB, Arizona State. Tenacious corner who was likely a top-75 pick before his pre-2011 injury. Bolden should contribute right away if healthy.

110. Chargers:Trevor Guyton, DE, California. He'll provide hustle and strength at a 3-4 defensive end spot in 2012 and beyond.

111. Bears:Nick Toon, WR, Wisconsin. Consistency and durability concerns could drop him on some boards, but Toon has a chance to be a starter.

112. Cardinals:Senio Kelemete, OG/OT, Washington. Arizona continues to rebuild its line with a versatile lineman who can compete for playing time right away or move to tackle when Levi Brown's time is done.

113. Cowboys:Coty Sensabaugh, CB, Clemson. No need for the Cowboys to go get character references on the cousin of starting safety Gerald Sensabaugh.

Here's a harsh reality of the NFL draft: Some teams wish they could just go back in time for a second chance. This week, Bucky Brooks, Elliot Harrison and Jason Smith rewrite the drafts from 2007 to 2011.